How Local Businesses Should Prep Google Business Profile for the Two May Bank Holidays

The two May bank holidays are a recurring stress-test for small businesses: opening hours change, footfall spikes or drifts away, staff rotas tighten and customer expectations shift. This practical guide explains how local businesses should prep Google Business Profile for the two May bank holidays so your listing reflects reality, attracts local customers and reduces last-minute headaches.

Quick priorities before the long weekends

Start with three simple checks at least a week before each bank holiday: opening hours, contact details and booking links. Most customer enquiries come from people checking whether you are open and how to get what they want — being accurate on these basics prevents lost sales and unnecessary phone calls to your team.

• Confirm standard trading hours and set special hours for both bank holidays.
• Test the phone number and booking URL shown on your listing.
• Make sure your high street or neighbourhood address and map pin are correct; a misplaced pin can cost trade.

Set special hours and avoid the temporary-closed trap

Google Business Profile allows you to set special hours for specific dates. Use this feature rather than marking your business as temporarily closed, which can harm visibility.

• Add special hours for each bank holiday and for the bank-holiday weekend if you have different opening times on Saturdays and Sundays.
• If you plan to extend hours for late-night shopping or hospitality trade, reflect those extended times explicitly.
• For licensed premises, make sure your hours align with licensing restrictions and advertised entertainment or events.

Update services, booking and click-and-collect options

Many customers use the listing to place orders, reserve tables or arrange click-and-collect. Ensure these options are current.

• Update the booking button to point to an active booking system or temporarily disable it if you are not taking bookings.
• If you offer click-and-collect or delivery, confirm the delivery area and times and set them clearly on your profile.
• Add or refresh links to menus, price lists and product pages so visitors can make decisions quickly.

Refresh photos and attributes to capture bank-holiday trade

Photos and attributes influence whether people choose you over a competitor. Bank holidays often bring different customers — tourists, families, or day-trippers — so adjust your visuals and attributes accordingly.

• Add recent photos that show seating capacity, outdoor areas, menus or seasonal dishes. A clear image of your shopfront helps new customers find you.
• Use attributes to highlight outdoor seating, wheelchair access, kid-friendly amenities, alcohol licence, or free Wi-Fi.
• If you have special offers or a bank-holiday menu, post pictures of featured items so people can spot them in search results.

Run a focused local offers or post campaign

Google Posts let you promote offers, special menus and events directly on your profile. They are time-limited and ideal for bank-holiday promotions.

• Create concise posts for each holiday with clear dates and any T&C such as limited availability.
• If you run a promotion, consider a simple code or phrase customers can mention to track performance.
• Use Posts to clarify whether you will be running normal trading, quiet hours for families, or late-night entertainment.

Prepare staff, stock and service to match the listing

Your listing sets expectations. Make sure operations match what customers see online.

• Align stock levels — popular bakery items, summer drinks, chilled beers or barbecue supplies sell fast during bank holidays.
• Plan rotas with expected busy periods in mind; bank holidays often have different footfall patterns than regular weekends.
• Ensure staff know about any bank-holiday offers so they can upsell and avoid confusion at the till.

Capture reviews and manage reputation proactively

Bank holidays are prime time for review opportunities — good or bad. Have a simple system to encourage satisfied customers to leave feedback.

• Use a short QR code on receipts or tabletop signs linking directly to your review page.
• Train staff to ask politely for a review after a positive interaction, and consider sending a brief follow-up email where appropriate.
• Respond promptly and professionally to any negative feedback; acknowledge issues and explain how you will resolve them. Customers notice responsiveness.

Quick templates for asking for reviews

• "Thanks for visiting today — if you enjoyed your time, a quick review helps other local customers find us."
• "We hope you liked your order. If you have a moment, please leave a short review — it really supports our team."

Monitor for duplicates and maintain accuracy

Duplicates or third-party listings using old data confuse customers and split enquiries. Run a quick audit.

• Search your business name and address to spot duplicates or incorrect entries, and request removal or claim them.
• Check that any third-party marketplaces or delivery platforms display the same hours and contact details as your Google profile.

Use messaging and FAQs to cut down on calls

If you get a lot of phone queries, use the messaging feature and the Q&A section to answer common questions.

• Turn on messaging during staffed hours and set an auto-reply with estimated response times.
• Populate the Q&A with answers about bank-holiday menus, parking, accessibility and booking rules.

Measure and learn after the holidays

After each bank holiday, review insights: calls, clicks for directions, and photo views. These figures help with rota planning and offer design for the next peak.

• Note which posts or offers attracted the most clicks and replicate formats that worked.
• Track review volume and sentiment to identify operational pinch points.

Keeping your Google Business Profile accurate and useful is mostly about setting expectations and delivering on them. With clear hours, up-to-date photos, accurate booking and ordering options, and a simple review-capture plan, your high street or independent business can turn bank-holiday weekends into reliable trading opportunities rather than logistical headaches.